Woman filmed being dragged from Southwest Airlines flight after complaining of allergy to dogs on board

An airline passenger has been filmed being dragged from a plane after complaining she had an allergy to two dogs on board.

Southwest Airlines said the passenger told staff she had a “life-threatening pet allergy” after realising there was an emotional support animal and pet dog on the flight from Baltimore to Los Angeles.

However she was then asked to leave and refused before airline staff called transport police to remove her.

The footage, captured on another passenger’s mobile phone while the aircraft was at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, shows two police officers pulling the woman from her seat and dragging her down the aisle as she protests.

The passenger, who tells the officers she is a professor, is heard shouting “don’t touch me” and “what are you guys doing?” At one point she is heard to say: “My dad has surgery, what are you doing?”

Later in the video the woman is also asks to be unhanded as she is willing to walk off the plane, but she continues to be dragged towards the exit as officers shout “walk” at her.

Southwest Airlines spokesman Chris Mainz said while the passenger had indicated she had a “life-threatening pet allergy” she was unable to provide the medical certificate necessary to travel.

The airline said its policy is that a passenger can be asked to leave if they report an allergy and cannot travel safely with an animal on board.

Mr Mainz said police were called after the passenger was repeatedly asked to leave the plane.

He added: “We are disheartened by the way this situation unfolded and the customer’s removal by local law enforcement officers. We publicly offer our apologies to this Customer for her experience and we will be contacting her directly to address her concerns.”

A spokesman for the Maryland Transportation Authority Police told the LA Times the passenger was charged with disorderly conduct, failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order, disturbing the peace, obstructing and hindering a police officer and resisting arrest. The spokesman said she has since been released.

The incident, which happened on Tuesday, is reminiscent of a similar one when a passenger was filmed being violently dragged from an overcrowded United Airlines flight in April.

The footage sparked a loud public outcry and the passenger in that case, Dr David Dao, was later paid compensation by the airline.